Klarinet Archive - Posting 000624.txt from 2001/06

From: Lacy Schroeder <LacyS@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Right Thumb and Wrist Problems
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 13:06:48 -0400

I am thankful for the responses, both on the list and personally. I really
do appreciate that! In answering quesitons, I play with my thumb positioned
under the rest on the first joint. From what I have read from everyone, this
seems to be too far to the left. But placing my thumb under the rest between
the tip and first joint causes my other 4 fingers to go out of alignment
(plus, it is quite painful for that part of my thumb!). I have extremely
long fingers (I'm very tall-5'11"-and have long arms, legs, and torso, so
sometimes the "triangle" as someone described it does cause me to slump a
little), and I do play with them curved and with the fleshy part covering
the hole. The pain seems to shoot up my arm as well. It's terrible because
sometimes I have to quit practicing not because my embochure is tired, but
because my hand and wrist hurt too badly. Good thing I'm ambidextrious; I do
most things left-handed to save from using and straining my right hand
further. It's not bad enough to make me stop playing for any length of time,
but I don't want to cause a permanent injury. And if anyone is wondering, I
am an advanced player.

I have also tried turning the thumbrest upside-down, and it helps a little
but I still hurt after 20 or 30 minutes. I have a cushion on it also, which
can be flipped for 2 varying thicknesses. I'm contemplating a neck strap but
I only want to do this as a last resort. I hate those things. I would really
like to try the Kooiman Etude thumbrest, but his site says nothing on how to
order. Plus, International doesn't have the Etude model listed. I'll call
them later and ask if they have it at all.

If anyone would like to email me with further suggestions (which would be of
great value to me), I can be reached at misstheorymajor@-----.com, as I will
be at a festival for the next 5 weeks and will have to unsubscribe for that
time (starting today!).

Thank you all! See you in August-

Lacy Schroeder

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dee D. Hays [mailto:deehays@-----.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 5:00 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Right Thumb and Wrist Problems
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lacy Schroeder" <LacyS@-----.org>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 6:04 PM
> Subject: RE: [kl] Right Thumb and Wrist Problems
>
>
> > I rest my horn on my knees as well, but for me this still
> doesn't reduce
> the
> > pain in my hand. Maybe I'm doing something wrong!
> >
> > Lacy
> >
>
> What is your hand position? If the hand is too far under the
> horn, the bend
> in the wrist can lead to pain in the hand or arm. The middle
> of the thumb
> rest should straddle the line where the base of the thumb
> nail meets the
> flesh.
>
> Dee Hays
> Michigan
>
>
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